Shocked and angry.
That’s the reaction from Acting Deputy US Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse to the US House’s failure to pass its version of the farm bill. Scuse was in Bismarck to meet with farming and ranching organizations, to talk about the farm bill and the amount of acres that could not be planted this year because of the too-wet conditions.
Scuse told Bismarck reporters he’s hoping the House will reconsider – and get its version of the bill passed, so it can be worked out in a conference committee.
"Our farmers and ranchers, our consumers, and those who participate in our programs need some sort of certainty," said Scuse. "There's a lot of work to be done when a farm bill passes, and to go through the regulatory process and look at the program changes, to get them in place for this fall planting season, and before our farmers amd ranchers start making plans for next year, we need this passed sooner than later."
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) says it’s important that the House get a bill passed – and get it into a conference committee. She says just extending the current farm law won’t do much good.
"We had real reforms with real savings (in the Senate farm bill)," said Heitkamp. "All of that will not be realized if we go to an extension and don't pass a farm bill."\
Heitkamp says the SNAP program -- food stamps -- is reformed in the Senate bill, and direct payments to farmers are ended.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple says he’s working with other farm state governors to get the House to take up the bill as passed out of committee. House members offered over 100 amendments to the farm bill before voting it down.
